The Lion Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Mid Suffolk
The Lion Inn holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 31 January 2025, 17 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 44 Ipswich Road, Needham Market, Ipswich, IP6 8EH
How it compares in Mid Suffolk
That puts The Lion Inn among the 625 places in Mid Suffolk holding top marks, 86% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 625 | 86% | ← The Lion Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 66 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 121 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At The Lion Inn none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Lion Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chitty Chitty Bon Bon Limited Retailers - other | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
| Finneys Other catering premises | 291 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2024 |
| East of England Co-operative Society Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 308 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 July 2017 |
| Uvedale Hall Residential Home Caring Premises | 367 yards away | 4 - Good | 24 March 2026 |
| The Rampant Horse Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2024 |
| The Swan Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 April 2026 |
| Huseyin Kara Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
| The Angel Community Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 4 - Good | 11 March 2026 |
Questions about The Lion Inn
What is The Lion Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Lion Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Suffolk Council on 31 January 2025.
Is The Lion Inn safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Lion Inn last inspected?
The Lion Inn was last inspected on 31 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Lion Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Lion Inn compare to other places in Mid Suffolk?
86% of the 730 rated food businesses in Mid Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and The Lion Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Suffolk Council inspects The Lion Inn and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch The Lion Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Lion Inn is one of 33 rated food businesses in Needham Market. See every hygiene rating in Needham Market →
Mid Suffolk inspects and rates 851 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →